The Irishman turned 52 earlier this month.
Ken Doherty reached the last 64 of the Scottish Open after a dramatic comeback saw him down Ali Carter in Wednesday’s qualifying round at the Metrodome.
Doherty trailed Carter by two frames early on and again at 3-2, with his opponent scoring the heavier thanks to breaks of 69, 66, 55, and 50.
But the 1997 world champion made a run of 74 to force the decider, and he duly fought back in a thrilling finale to snatch the triumph on the final black.
The Dubliner will move forward to the venue stages of the Scottish Open, which this year will again not take place on home soil but instead in Llandudno.
Women’s world champion Reanne Evans, meanwhile, suffered another defeat in what has been a difficult return to the Main Tour during this campaign.
Evans had an opportunity to lead her encounter 3-2 but broke down in the fifth frame, and Mitchell Mann eventually pinched it and the next frame for a 4-2 success.
Elsewhere, China’s Chang Bingyu was in fine form as he outplayed People’s Champion Jimmy White with a 4-1 scoreline, contributing a century break of 109 in the process.
Amateur top-up David Lilley, a late replacement for Igor Figueiredo, had little trouble in overcoming tour rookie Dean Young 4-0.
It was much tougher for Hammad Miah, who continued his decent opening to the 2021/22 term with a close 4-3 victory against Ashley Carty, while Craig Steadman beat Chen Zifan 4-2.
The Scottish Open resumes with the venue stages of the competition in December.
Click here to view the draw (Times: CET)
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